TACLOBAN CITY- Beauty pageant aficionados have something to look forward in this year's 118th city fiesta as not just one but two pageants are to be staged this year.
The first is the long-running Miss Pintados which has 15 lovely candidates vying the most prestigious beauty title in the region.
And for the first time, a "beauty" search for true-blooded male will be staged as another way to further enliven the annual fiesta of the city which honors Señor Santo Niño.
Philippine Information Agency Regional Director Olive Tiu, who is a member of the Pintados Foundation, which runs the annual Miss Pintados, said that they are happy to present that this year's candidates are among the best batches.
"They are really the best among those who were screened by the committee," she said during the weekly media forum "Express it at the Park" held at the Leyte Park Resort.
Both Director Tiu and Eugene Tan, president of the Pintados Foundation, said that the Miss Leyte Pintados, through the years, has now grown not only in terms of candidates joining the pageant but more so, on prestige.
For this year, 15 candidates, coming from as far as Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar, are to vie the 20th Miss Pintados which is to be staged at the Tacloban City Convention Center.
Aside from the title, up for grabs during the June 28 beauty search are special prizes, including Darling of the Press, with corresponding prizes coming from the Pintados Foundation, Inc. and various sponsors.
Proceeds of the search will go to various social services initiated by the Pintados Foundation. Last year's winner was Shenna Marie Cubillo.
And for the first time, the Ginoong Leyte will be staged this year as Antonio Cinco said that the pageant aims to help boost environmental awareness among our people.
The contest is to be held on June 26 at the RTR Plaza, which is also known as Pintados-Kasadyaan Festivals Park.
About 14 candidates coming from various parts of the region are to vie the title with cash prize ranging from P15, 000 up to P5, 000 to be awarded to the top winners.
The candidates are to be judged not only based on their physical attributes and talents but on their intelligence, Cinco of the technical working group of the Kasadyaan Festival, said during the "Express it at the Park."
And just like the candidates of the Miss Leyte Pintados, those who joined the Ginoong Leyte were also one in saying that they joined the contest not just for fun but to help their boosts their confidence and be of service to the people.
